Many members of the LDS church know what the Journal of Discourses is, though some might not. Most will have been told not to use ideas or quotes in Sunday School lessons, or Sacrament Meeting speeches. I know it was ACTIVELY discouraged in my ward. Id like to hear what people think about it now, with the advent of the Internet and increase of transparency from LDS leaders. But first, Brigham Youngs (the second president/prophet of the LDS church, and Voice of God on Earth) own words on the nature of the Journal of Discourses: I say now, when they [his discourses] are copied and approved by me they are as good Scripture as is couched in this Bible . . . (Journal of Discourses, vol. 13, p. 264; see also p. 95). Also: I am here to answer. I shall be on hand to answer when I am called upon, for all the counsel and for all the instruction that I have given to this people. If there is an Elder here, or any member of this Church, called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who can bring up the first idea, the first sentence that I have delivered to the people as counsel that is wrong, I really wish they would do it; but they cannot do it, for the simple reason that I have never given counsel that is wrong; this is the reason. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 16, p. 161). So, it sounds like Brigham Young is stating quite clearly that his words in the Journal of Discourses, are words approved of by God, they do not lead anyone astray, and they are not just him speaking as a man. Here are a couple quotes from the Journal of Discourses that I find strange coming from the Voice of God on Earth, a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator: Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned, (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 266). Also, The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy, (Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, p. 269). Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken--He is our Father, and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non professing, must hear it, and will know it sooner or later. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, p. 50). And some interesting thoughts on blacks: You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind . . . Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have put a termination to that line of human beings. This was not to be, and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 290). In our first settlement in Missouri, it was said by our enemies that we intended to tamper with the slaves, not that we had any idea of the kind, for such a thing never entered our minds. We knew that the children of Ham were to be the servant of servants, and no power under heaven could hinder it, so long as the Lord would permit them to welter under the curse and those were known to be our religious views concerning them. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 172). Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, p. 110). What are your thoughts? How does Brigham Youngs thoughts, commandments, and declarations fit into your faith?
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 15:27:22 +0000
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